OBITUARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 460, 29 December 1930, Page 7

OBITUARY

LORD MELCHETT Received Dec. 28, 8.5 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 28. Lord Melehett, formerly Sir Alfred Moritz Mond, is dead. The King has forwarded a letter of sympathy to Lady Melehett. PRESS TRIBUTES LONDON, Dee. 28. Though generally agreeing that his political career was comparatively un- . distinguished, newspapers unanimously pay tribute to Lord Melehett’s business genius, sincerity and attempts to reconcile masters and men, and regret his loss at a critical period in national life. The Observer says: “England loses an inspiring impulse in scientific industry; a man of highest intellectual power.” The Sunday Express: The greatest of all British industrialists has passed away. The late Lord Melehett, formerly the Rt. Hon. Sir Alfred Moritz Mond, whose Baronetcy was created in 1910, Privy Councillor and member of Parliament was born at Farnworth, near Widncss, Lancashire on October 23, 1868. He was a son of the late Dr. Ludwig Mond, F.R.B. He married Violet Goetze, who was created Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1920- Hi* wife is the daughter of the late James Henry Goetze. There were three daughters and one son of the marriage. The late Lord Nlel-chett, was educated at Cheltcnam College, St. John’s College, Cambridge; and at Edinburgh University. He was a barrister of the Inner Temple in 1894. During his lire he was the member for Chester 1906-10, for Swansea from then to 1923, and for Carmarthen since August, 1924. He was Minister of Health from 1921-22. He was chairman of numerous companies dealing with gas, nickel, anthractic, ammonia and nitrates. His writings included articles o i the alkali trade chemical industries politicr’ and economic subjects, some of which were published in 1912, under the title of “Questions of To-day and To-morrow- ’ ’ MR VINTILA BRATIANO. RUMANIAN LIBERAL LEADER. BUCHAREST, Dec. 23. The death is announced of Mr Vintila Bratiano, formerly Prime Minister of Rumania. Mr Vintila Bratiano was born in 1867 at Bucharest. His father was lou Bratiano, to whom his country owes its independence, its monarchy and its great economic development. Vintila Bratiano studied at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, where he secured his diploma in engineering. Returning home, he was employed as a constructional engineer in the great Saligny works. He had much to do with the building of the various Danube bridges in Rou mania. When his brother Jonel had taken his father’s place in political life, Vintila entered the Liberal Party and assisted in its reorganisation. He also devoted himself to the study of financial and economic questions. His wide knowledge of these led to his appointment to various official bodies. Before the war he was Mayor of Bucharest. In .19.16 he became Minister of War and later Minister of Munitions. Afterwards he served in all the Liberal Cabinets as Finance Minister, so that he was able to carry out a number of important reforms. Having succeeded in getting rid of the inflation of the currency, he stabilised it. and was able to balance the Budget... He reorganised the financial and fiscal system of the State, concluded an agreement with the National Bank and consolidated the State and private loans abroad. | After the sudden death of his brother, in November, 1927, Vintila succeeded him as leader of thp Liberal Party, and as Prime Minister, while retaining his portfolio of Finance.’ He announced that he would pursue the same policy. His efforts to induce the Opposition loader* to collaborate with him in a “Cabinet of National Union” failed. Indeed. Dr. Manin, the leader of the National Peasants’ Party, began a vigorous campaign against the Government, which he denoun‘?P(l as corrupt. In January, 1928, Bratiano surrendered the Ministry of Finance to Antonescu, as ho found the dual role too much for him. Tn November, 1928. Dr. Manin became Prime Minister in place of Bratiano. At the general election in December, Bratiano’s party was heavily defeated.